ALBANY -- When Carol King, artistic director of the Albany Civil Theater, was asked to lend the local troupe's support to a clean-water project in Afghanistan, she pounced on the opportunity to do something with an impact halfway around the world.

The project was a well being dug in Mir Taqi Shah, a small village in Afghanistan. Its clean water now benefits 120 families.

"My central vision was that we are very specific people with specific problems and specific triumphs and yet we are participating in an infinite universe. which makes us all in this together," King said. "We were thrilled to do something that would have global consequences."

The nonprofit theater company, whose members are volunteers, got involved when a leader of Women Against War, Maureen Aumand, asked King to present a benefit performance of "Our Town" for the peace group's own support of the well.

"I checked with the cast, because it would involve an additional performance," said King, an Albany resident who has been affiliated with ACT for three decades and artistic director for eight years. The cast of 30 agreed.

ACT, which has been in business since 1954, has done benefits for other community and church organizations, said King. It offers group sales at 20 percent discount to the groups. They buy 122 seats for $1,000 and sell the tickets for whatever price they choose. Women Against War sold out the May 16 performance of Thornton Wilder's classic play, which King directed.

At the performance, the sale of Afghan delicacies along with a silent auction raised money for the cause. Also, a question-and-answer session with the cast and King was conducted after the performance.

"It was a beautiful experience," she said, noting that photographs of the production will be given Fahima Vorgett, an Afghan-American who lives in the Washington, D.C., area. Vorgett, who is spearheading the support effort in this country, will show the theater pictures to people in the Afghan village during her next visit.

The theater has a very loyal group of about 150 volunteers and a nice following, King said.

"We welcome anybody who would like to join us. We try to bring the best actors and best directors," said King, adding, "We are making a difference."